Shanghai 上海

This photograph was taken in 1995 in downtown Shanghai. At that time most of these buildings would have belonged to work units. One of the first steps in changing the practice was to sell the apartments to the tenants. At first, the individual was required to sell the unit back to the work unit, but that quickly changed to pure ownership. Large work units still build housing for their workers so that they can buy apartments at affordable prices. The company will then provide a shuttle service from the apartment complex if it is far from the workplace.

Below is a sign advertising a new apartment complex that will include offices and shops. You can see the Yangpu Bridge in the background. At that time, very few of the new buildings in the Pudong District had been completed.